THE FIELDS (2011)

Streaming on Tubi!
Directed by Tom Mattera, David Mazzoni
Written by B. Harrison Smith.

I’m a huge fan of Rated G horror, mostly because when done effectively, it can chill your very soul because it takes you back to a time when everything was scary. Films like SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES, and the TV version of SALEM’S LOT come to mind as perfect examples of childhood fears made real in cinema. Though not as effective as the aforementioned films and I’m not sure that this is necessarily G-Rated horror, THE FIELDS definitely has a lot more going for it than against. Sure, it is filmed on the budgetary low, but it makes up for it with a dark mood, genuine performances from a talented cast, and a firm hold on what childhood fears are all about.

Tom Mattera & David Mazzoni direct, and though this film starts out in a somewhat disjointed manner following a boy waking up at night to witness his father in a drunken rage pointing a gun at his mother’s head, once the film makes its way to the grandparents’ farmhouse, the story and filmmaking skills really shine. Every moment on the farm in this film took me back to a simpler time. Having an aunt and uncle that lived out in the country, like child-actor Joshua Ormond who plays Steven, I too had to spend the summer months away from my city home and take in the sights and sounds of farm living. Also much like Steven, the silence of the country was the most frightening for me to experience. In fact, so much of the details surrounding the character of Steven in this film are like my own (attraction to horror films, tendency to run off by himself, tendency to have a wild imagination), except for the whole obsession with the Manson murders, the retarded cousins, and the father pointing the gun at the mother thing, of course, that it took me no time to relate to the characters and the story.

Given, the fact that I identified with the main character so well made me look past a lot of the flaws of this film. Yes, it is rather tedious as scenes seem to extend well past their expiration date, and though the buildup of an ominous presence in the fields surrounding the farm is patient and proves to crescendo to a deafening tone toward the end, the first hour is somewhat of a chore to get through. That said, there are true moments of fear in this first hour as well, harkening back to CHILDREN OF THE CORN, but more so like the cult classic PAPERHOUSE where an abused girl disappears into a world of her own in times of stress. Like that child, Steven has an active imagination, especially as a means to cope with stressful situations, so while the film shows him happening upon a dead body and an abandoned carnival in the cornfields, the viewer is not aware if this is occurring all in Steven’s mind or if it’s really occurring. That’s part of the sublime charm of this film. Steven is on screen most of the time but has little dialog. Mostly, Steven is observing, hiding, and investigating places he shouldn’t be. THE FIELDS captures that inquisitive nature of the child in all of us and puts it in dire, seemingly life-threatening situations.

The rest of the cast is pretty great too. Yes, even Tara Reid who dresses down in this one to play Steven’s mom. The real treat is seeing Cloris Leachman in a leading role as Nanny, a foulmouthed yet warm-hearted soul who likes to watch horror films on the black and white television, teach Steven dirty songs and stories, and laugh at her own farts. Again, just like my own grandma. Leachman is charming and really adds a lot of authenticity to this film.

Sure, this is a slow starter and some of the acting is a bit stiff at times, but THE FIELDS really takes off when the darkness of the fields surrounding the farm descends upon Steven and his grandparents in the latter half. For those with patience, this will be a satisfying experience. It may cause some to long for the fast forward button, but if you remember sleeping in your room as a child and being petrified by the dark shadows and creepy noises of the countryside, you’re going to have some fun with THE FIELDS.